Mon oncle d'Amérique (1980)

Director:

Alain Resnais

Writers:

Jean Gruault
Henri Laborit (writings)

Release Date:

17 December 1980 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Plot:

Prof. Henri Laborit uses the stories of the lives of three people to discuss behaviorist theories of survival...

Plot Keywords:

Anxiety | Reward | Punishment | Science | Fear Of Punishment

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 10 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

Gérard Depardieu	...	René Ragueneau
Nicole Garcia	...	Janine Garnier
Roger Pierre	...	Jean Le Gall
Nelly Borgeaud	...	Arlette Le Gall
Pierre Arditi	...	Zambeaux, le représentant de la direction générale à Paris
Gérard Darrieu	...	Léon Veestrate
Philippe Laudenbach	...	Michel Aubert
Marie Dubois	...	Thérèse Ragueneau
Henri Laborit	...	Himself
Bernard Malaterre	...	Le père de Jean
Laurence Roy	...	La mère de Jean
Alexandre Rignault	...	Le grand-père de Jean / Jean's Grandfather
Véronique Silver	...	La mère de Janine
Jean Lescot	...	Le père de Janine
Geneviève Mnich	...	La mère de René
Maurice Gauthier	...	Le père de René
Guillaume Boisseau	...	Jean enfant / jean as a Child
Ina Bedart	...	Janine enfant
Ludovic Salis	...	René enfant
François Calvez	...	René adolescent
Stephanie Loustau	...	Janine adolescente
Monique Mauclair	...	L'institutrice
Damien Boisseau	...	Jean adolescent
Gaston Vacchia	...	Henri, l'oncle de René
Bertrand Lepage	...	Maurice, le frère de René
Jean-Philippe Puymartin	...	Jean jeune homme
Catherine Frot	...	Arlette jeune fille
Valérie Dréville	...	Thérèse jeune fille / Young Thérèse
Brigitte Roüan	...	L'amie de Janine
Max Vialle	...	Jean-Marie Laugier, le metteur en scène
Yves Peneau	...	Un comédien
Jean-Bernard Guillard	...	Un comédien
Laurence Février	...	Une comédienne
Charlotte Bonnet	...	La secrétaire de M. Louis
Jean Dasté	...	M. Louis
Anne-Christine Joinneau	...	La fille de Jean
Sébastien Drai	...	Le fils de Jean
Marjorie Godin	...	La secrétaire de l'usine
Liliane Gaudet	...	Mme Arnal
Isabelle Ganz	...	Josyane
Maria Laborit	...	La troisième secrétaire de Jean
Albert Médina	...	Bozon-Vandrieux
Laurence Badie	...	Mme Veestrate
Carène Ferrey	...	La première fille de René
Sabine Thomas	...	La seconde fille de René
Catherine Serre	...	La secrétaire de la direction générale
Jacques Rispal	...	L'homme bousculé par René
Héléna Manson	...	La logeuse de René à Cholet
Serge Feuillard	...	Le médecin des urgences
Gilette Barbier	...	Mme Landais
Dominique Rozan	...	Le sénateur
Michel Muller	...	Le garde-chasse
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Danielle Darrieux	...	Herself (archive footage)
Dorothée	...	(voice)
Jean Gabin	...	Himself (archive footage)
Jean Marais	...	Himself (archive footage)

Directed by
Alain Resnais

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Jean Gruault
Henri Laborit		writings

Produced by
Philippe Dussart	....	producer
Christian Lentretien	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Arié Dzierlatka

Cinematography by
Sacha Vierny

Film Editing by
Albert Jurgenson

Production Design by
Jacques Saulnier

Set Decoration by
Philippe Turlure

Costume Design by
Catherine Leterrier

Makeup Department
Marie-Hélène Yastchenkoff	....	makeup supervisor

Production Management
Michel Fauré	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jean Léon	....	assistant director
Florence Malraux	....	assistant director
Guy Pinon	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Gérard Loupias	....	boom operator
Jacques Maumont	....	sound mixer
Georges Prat	....	sound
Jean-Pierre Ruh	....	sound

Camera and Electrical Department
Philippe Brun	....	camera operator
François Catonné	....	assistant camera
Arthur Cloquet	....	assistant camera

Editorial Department
Philippe Tourret	....	color timer

Music Department
Harry Rabinowitz	....	conductor

Production Companies

• Philippe Dussart
• Andrea Films
• TF1

Distributors

• Films Galatée, Les (1980) (France) (theatrical)
• Gaumont (1980) (France) (theatrical)
• MK2 Éditions (2003) (France) (DVD)
• Rosebud (2008) (Greece) (theatrical) (re-issue)
• Multimedia San Paolo S.r.l. (2007) (Italy) (DVD)
• New World Pictures (USA) (subtitled)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2007) (Australia) (DVD)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

125 min

Country:

France

Language:

French

Color:

Black and White (archive footage) | Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | France:U | Switzerland:16 | USA:PG | West Germany:16 | Singapore:PG | Hong Kong:I | Italy:T | UK:12 | Australia:PG | Sweden:15 | Argentina:13 | Peru:14 | Portugal:M/12 (Qualidade)

Filming Locations:

Café de la Gare - 41 Rue du Temple, Paris 4, Paris, France

Company:

Philippe Dussart

Trivia:

Director Trademark: [Alain Resnais] [character name]Pierre Arditi's character is named Zambeaux.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Film Geek (2005)

Intelligent, thought-provoking, mesmerizing

I've seen this film twice. The first time, it told me how to view the world. The second time, it represented my view of the world. Everyone's actions are determined by a small number of forces, it says. Everyone's behavior fits into only four categories, it says. And yet, it presents such a wide range of emotions, actions, and thoughts that it seems to contradict its very hypothesis. And yet, it doesn't. Turn your brain on and watch this; give it time to sink in, then watch it again. I guarantee it will change your way of looking at the world. The editing is top-notch, and Resnais is at the top of his form, as he was 20 years earlier with Hiroshima Mon Amour. The ending is a stunner, and it encapsulates the film while at the same time extending its meaning. The cinematography and message will remind you of Resnais' Night and Fog. Brilliant performances from all three leads and Laborit. Give it time, use your brain, and view it multiple times. You will be rewarded.